Agencies look to implement Robotic Process Automation

Katell Thielemann, research vice president at Gartner, details how agencies are planning to use Robotic Process Automation, and where it fits in the technology “continuum.”

Several federal agencies are experimenting with Robotic Process Automation, using the programs to automate repetitive tasks. FCW reports that the General Services Administration is using six RPA bots to free up 12,000 man-hours of work per year. Katell Thielemann, research vice president at Gartner, says that RPA is a very simple emergent technology to implement.

“Technology moves on, now we have a continuum. You had the macros of the past in Excel, now you have robotic process automation, and at the other end of the spectrum you have AI,” Thielemann said. “What’s interesting about robotic process automation is that at least it’s concrete. It’s out there, it’s deployable. You already see case management solutions, eligibility program decisions, enhancing call center operations, looking at automating cybersecurity detection tools. Those things lend themselves to robotic process automation.”